F
D
Foreword
id you know that developing your strengths – those things you’re good at and actually
enjoy doing – makes it eighteen times more likely you’ll describe yourself as “flourishing”
at work? Given most of us report we’re just getting by when it comes to our jobs, how hard
can it be to start doing more of what we do best?
Well you might be surprised.
Off the top of your head right now try naming your top five strengths. Chances are you’ll
spot two or three easily, but most of struggle to name five because we’re often blind to
some of the things we do best without the help of a strengths assessment tool like Gallup’s
StrengthsFinder or the VIA Survey.
For the strengths you can remember, now think about how often you’ve intentionally used
them over the past few days at work? Studies suggest only 50% of us will have had the
opportunity to do what we do best – to develop our strengths – each day as we go about our
jobs.
Why is developing our strengths so hard?
The most common challenges that are heard are: “I’m not sure where to start” and “I’m too
busy right now”. But don’t these seem like the worst reasons in the world not to do more of
what you do best each day and truly flourish at work?
The first two steps are part of the Positive Psychology Practioner’s Toolkit
([Link] and were designed to help you discover your
strengths and prioritize your strengths. The last step is the result of a collaboration with
Michelle McQuaid ([Link] and helps you make a habit out of
practicing strengths.
[2]
1 STEP 1
DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS
[3]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
1. Discover your strengths
In this first step you are going to identify 5 of your character strengths. Character strengths can
be defined as ”positive traits reflected in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They exist in degrees
and can be measured as individual differences” (Park, Peterson, & Seligman, 2004, p. 603).
Moreover, using a strength is energising. Perhaps this is one of the most important characteristics
of a strengths. While our weaknesses often drain us, strengths provide us with energy. Activities
that rely on your strengths are enjoyable and feel as if your energy levels are being raised.
Goal
The goal of this first step is to gain insight in the 5 character strengths that characterize you best.
[4]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit
Action Step 1.1
Take a look at the list of 24 character strengths listed below. Please select 5 strengths that you believe characterize
you best. Use the inventory on page 9 to list the 5 strengths that you chose.
Strengths of Wisdom and Knowledge
Cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition and use of knowledge
• Creativity [originality, ingenuity] Thinking of novel and productive ways to conceptualize and do things.
• Curiosity [interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience] Taking an interest in ongoing experience for its
own sake; exploring and discovering.
• Open-mindedness [judgment, critical thinking] Thinking things through and examining them from all sides;
weighing all evidence fairly.
• Love of learning Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one’s own or formally.
• Perspective [wisdom] Being able to provide wise counsel to others; having ways of looking at the world that
make sense to oneself and to other people.
Strengths of Courage
Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of
opposition, external and internal
• Bravery [valor] Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; acting on convictions even if
unpopular.
• Persistence [perseverance, industriousness] Finishing what one starts; persisting in a course of action in spite
of obstacles.
• Integrity [authenticity, honesty] Presenting oneself in a genuine way; taking responsibility for one’s feeling
and actions.
• Vitality [zest, enthusiasm, vigor, energy] Approaching life with excitement and energy; feeling alive and
activated.
[5]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit
Strengths of Humanity
interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others
• Love Valuing close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated.
• Kindness [generosity, nurturance, care, compassion, altruistic love, “niceness”] Doing favors and good deeds for
others.
• Social intelligence [emotional intelligence, personal intelligence] Being aware of the motives and feelings of
other people and oneself.
Strengths of Justice
civic strengths that underlie healthy community life
• Citizenship [social responsibility, loyalty, teamwork] Working well as a member of a group or team; being loyal
to the group.
• Fairness Treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice; not letting personal
feelings bias decisions about others.
• Leadership Encouraging a group of which one is a member to get things done and at the same maintain time
good relations within the group.
Strengths of Temperance
strengths that protect against excess
• Forgiveness and mercy Forgiving those who have done wrong; accepting the shortcomings of others; giving
people a second chance; not being vengeful.
• Humility / Modesty Letting one’s accomplishments speak for themselves; not regarding oneself as more
special than one is.
• Prudence Being careful about one’s choices; not taking undue risks; not saying or doing things that might
later be regretted.
• Self-regulation [self-control] Regulating what one feels and does; being disciplined; controlling one’s
appetites and emotions.
[6]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit
Strengths of Transcendence
strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning
• Appreciation of beauty and excellence [awe, wonder, elevation] Appreciating beauty, excellence, and/or
skilled performance in various domains of life.
• Gratitude Being aware of and thankful of the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks.
• Hope [optimism, future-mindedness, future orientation] Expecting the best in the future and working to
achieve it.
• Humor [playfulness] Liking to laugh and tease; bringing smiles to other people; seeing the light side.
• Spirituality [religiousness, faith, purpose] Having coherent beliefs about the higher purpose, the meaning of
life, and the meaning of the universe.
© 2004-2016 VIA® Institute on Character; All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
Action Step 1.2
To get a more objective idea of what your strengths are, try asking 3 people in your environment who know you
well to pick the 5 character strengths that they think describe you best. Use the inventory on page 9 again to list
the strengths that your peers chose. Do you notice a coherent pattern? How do your self-reported strengths differ
from those that others attribute to you? Why do you think that is the case?
Action Step 1.3
Now take the free, ten-minute VIA Survey, by clicking the following link:
[Link]
Knowing your strengths has been found to make it up to nine times more likely you’ll feel like you’re flourishing at
work. When you get your results don’t file them away, put them somewhere you’ll see them each day and look for
ways they’re showing up when you‘re feeling engaged and energized by your work. Finally, list the result of the VIA
questionnaire using the the inventory on page 9 once more.
[7]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
Inventory
An example a completed inventory is displayed below. The names below the inventory represent the names of the
three persons that this person has asked to select his strengths. As you can see, although not all sources have
identified the same strengths, there is considerable overlap in 5 of them, namely creativity (3), love of learning
(3), integrity (3), love (3) and fairness (3). These strengths are likely to be the signature strengths of this person. In
addition, the inventory also provides insight in possible blindspots: strengths that are mentioned by others, but not
by the person himself. In the current example, integrity is an example of a potential blindspot. The inventory may
also shed light on possible opportunities for growth: strengths that are mentioned by the person himself, but not or
not often recognised by other sources. Perspective is a potential area for growth for the client in the example below.
Perspective is only mentioned by the client, but no other source believes this strength to be present (at least not in
the top 5).
Strength Self VIA Other Other Other total
1 2 3
1 Creativity X X X 3
wisdwom & knowledge
2 Curiosity
3 Open-mindedness
4 Love of learning X X X 3
5 Perspective X 1
6 Bravery X 1
7 Persistence 1
courage
8 Integrity X X X 3
9 Vitality X 1
10 Love X X X 3
humanity
11 Kindness X 1
12 Social intelligence
13 Citizenship
justice
14 Fairness X X X 3
15 Leadership
16 Forgiveness and mercy
temperence
17 Humility / Modesty X 1
18 Prudence X X 2
19 Self-regulation
20 Appreciation of beauty
21 Gratitude X 1
transcendence
22 Hope X X 2
23 Humor
24 Spirituality
Names
Other 1: John Wright (colleague) Other 2: Mother Other 3: Will Connel (friend)
[8]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
Strength Self VIA Other Other Other total
1 2 3
1 Creativity
wisdwom & knowledge
2 Curiosity
3 Open-mindedness
4 Love of learning
5 Perspective
6 Bravery
7 Persistence
courage
8 Integrity
9 Vitality
10 Love
humanity
11 Kindness
12 Social intelligence
13 Citizenship
justice
14 Fairness
15 Leadership
16 Forgiveness and mercy
temperence
17 Humility / Modesty
18 Prudence
19 Self-regulation
20 Appreciation of beauty
21 Gratitude
transcendence
22 Hope
23 Humor
24 Spirituality
The Strengths listed here belong to the VIA Classification ©Copyright 2004-2015, VIA Institute. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Names
Other 1: Other 2: Other 3:
[9]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit
Action Step 1.4
Take a look at your inventory on page 9. What are the strengths that have been identified the most often by the
different sources? In other words, what are your 5 character strengths?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
[10]
2 STEP 2
PRIORITIZE YOUR STRENGTHS
[11]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
2. Prioritize Your Strengths
By now, you have become aware of what your top 5 strengths are. Rather than working on all
five strengths at once, use the Strengths Wheel exercise - developed by Matt Driver and part of
the Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit - to prioritize your focus. Follow the instructions on
the worksheet below to make a graphical representation of the extent to which you are currently
using your top five strengths at work and the scope that exists to improve upon this. Then start by
developing one strength at a time, so you can build up your confidence before tackling the rest.
Author
The current step was developed by Matt Driver ([Link] and used with
permission of the author.
Goal
The goal of this exercise is to map your current use of a number of your strengths. The tool can
help you identify which strengths you are potentially under-using, those that are working well,
and where you may be overplaying a particular strength. The exercise also offers a starting point
for creating a plan on how to increase or optimize strengths use.
[12]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
Action Step 2.1
Let’s investigate if there is room to use your strengths more often. The Strengths Wheel on page 15 can be used
to make a graphical representation of the extent to which your strengths are used (current use) and the room
that exists to use the strengths more (scope). The centre of the circle represents a score of ‘0’ and the outer rim
a score of ‘10’. Place two marks in each segment of the circle indicating (1) to what extent you currently use that
strength in the chosen context (e.g. work); and (2) how much scope there is for using that strength more in that
context. Next, draw a triangle that connects the two marks. The bigger the gap between the current use and the
scope, the bigger the triangle should be and the more potential there is for using that strength more.
Example
On the next page, you will find an example of a completed graph. In this graph, it becomes immediately obvious
that the chosen context (work) is far from ideal for expressing and building the strengths of social intelligence
and leadership. This is indicated by the small arrows close to the core of the circle. These arrows indicate that the
current strength is not used much and that there is not much potential for growth. Often, when this pattern applies
to three or more strengths, it is very likely that the current context of the person is far from ideal. For instance,
these patterns are often visibile for clients who don’t like their jobs. It can be both an eye- opening and confronting
experience for people to plot their strengths in this way.
What is more visible in the graph, is that gratitude and love of learning represent areas for growth. Both area’s are
used to a certain extent, but there is ample room for using them more, as indicated by the bigger grey triangles.
Finally, in this graph, there is one arrow that points in the opposite direction. It is possible that some strengths are
overused in a given context. In the case of this client, it seems that he may use humor too much at the workfloor.
Although humor has been associated with many benefits (like for instance more active and confrontative coping
styles), when overplayed it can become a weakness. Note that this applies to all strengths; every strength that is
used too much, or used in the wrong context loses its adaptive value. As indicated by the grey arrow that points
towards the core of the circle, it appears that humor is used a lot by the person, but the scope is not that that big.
In this case, it is important to marshal this strength, by using it appropriately according to the situation and context.
[13]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
Context: Work
Strength: Social Intelligence
Current Use: 1
Scope: 2
Strength: Gratitude Strength: Humor
Current Use: 3 Current Use: 9
10
Scope: 8 Scope: 5
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
10
10
2
9
9
8
8
7
7
1
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
10
10
Strength: Leadership Strength: Love of Learning
Current Use: 2 Current Use: 7
Scope: 3 Scope: 10
[14]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
Context:
Strength:
Current Use:
Scope:
Strength: Strength:
Current Use: Current Use:
10
Scope: Scope:
9
8
7
6
5
4
3 10
10
2
9
9
8
8
7
7
1
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
10
10
Strength: Strength:
Current Use: Current Use:
Scope: Scope:
[15]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioners Toolkit
Action Step 2.2
Let’s take a look at the completed Strength Wheel on page 15 and complete the following questions:
1. What do you notice when you take a look at the completed wheel?
2. Overall, how do you consider your strengths to be useful in this context?
3. Which strengths could you use be used more?
4. Which strengths leave little or no room for expansion?
5. What can you do to start using your strengths more in this context?
6. Are there other strengths that you could bring into the picture?
7. How might you begin using your strengths as a daily practice?
[16]
3 STEP 3
CREATE A DAILY STRENGTH HABIT
[17]
[Link] | Positive Psychology Practitioner‘s Toolkit
3. Create a Daily Strength Habit
Now you know which strength you want to develop and in which order, you can start by creating
an 11-minute daily strength habit.
Join the free global Strengths Challenge to be guided step-by-step to create an easy, busy-proof
routine that allows you to start doing more of what you do best. Not only will you find more than
70 different ways you can put your character strengths to work, but you can freely access strength
coaches if you‘re in need of additional support.
[Link]
[18]
